Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell on Monday announced that the state will conduct a study to assess current and projected commuter patterns in Northern Virginia in an attempt to deal with every Virginian’s favorite topic — transportation.
The study will cover commuting within “Northern Virginia,” as well as west from the Shenandoah Valley, south through Culpeper and Caroline, and east from the Northern Neck, and the impact of commuters traveling from Maryland, West Virginia and D.C. into NoVa will also be considered. It will be used to help plan transit and transportation demand management fixes for the perpetually-congested region.
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“Northern Virginia is the most congested region in Virginia, and it is projected to continue to grow both in population and employment,” Mr. McDonnell said. “Anecdotal information indicates that some people now make daily commutes of 100 miles each way or more to get to their jobs. To truly address congestion in Northern Virginia, we have to take a broader view of what constitutes the region and the commuting patterns of its workforce. We must develop a geographically broader vision and plan for transit and TDMs that do not stop at local or state political borders.”
The Department of Rail and Transportation will lead the study in cooperation with other agencies. It is expected to be completed within a year.
